Reducing valve



Aug. 20, 1929. E. V'. ANDERSON REDUCING VALVE lFiled Jan. 3, 1927 e 7 We 4&4 a

WITNESSES Patented Aug. 2o, 1929.

IUNITEDv STATES] s 1,724,891 PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD V. ANDERSON, OF `IBELLEVEBNON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSICINOB.` Ol' ONE- HALF T CHARLES E. GOLDEN,

OF GRAFTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

:aanname vanvr.

Application led January 3, 1927. Serial No. 158,495.

'This invention relates to valve mechanism and especially to reducing valves for water systems. v

An object of the invention 1s to provide a valve mechanism of improved construction valves on the cover so thatthey may be removed therewith, without the necessity of detaching them from the cover, or detaching them from any other parts. e

Water reducing valves are c'onnected in water supply systems between a point of distribution or a storage-system and a source of supply, for the purpose of maintaining a given water level or head at the delivery side of the valve. In accordance with the present invention a reducing valve is provided which is automatically controlled through a pilot valve and pressure responsive device to regulate the difference in the pressures on the respective sides of the valve passage.

In the accompanying drawin constituting a part hereof and in which lie reference characters designate like parts, Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view partially in elevation of a reducing valve embodying the principles of this invention; and Fig. 2 is a detail in section showing a modification of the main valve and its seat. Y

Referring to the figures of the drawing the structure therein illustrated comprises a valve casing 1 provided with a fixed diaphragm 2 having a central opening 3 constituting a passage or port between the inlet chamber A and outlet chamber B of thc valve casing. The lower portion of the valve casing 1 is provided with an opening 4 for receivin the restricted end portion of a guide stern 5 W ich is secured at one side of the valve 1 by a nut 6 which interacts with the screw threaded portion 7 thereof. The stem portion 5 is provided with a slotted portion 8 and a central opening 9 and its upper portion is provided with integral arms 10 extending radially and ter- 5 minating in an annular ring 11.

i The member 5 constitutes a guide for a y valve stem 12 secured to the lower side of a piston member 13 which forms. the passage controlling valve of the reducing valve mechanism. The valve 13 is provided with a chamfered seating .face 14, at its bottom portion, and a radial flange 15 at its upper portion, the

flange having mounted thereon a liner cup 16 secured in place by a follower 17 which is clamped to the flange portion of the valve by the screw elements 18. The upper portion of the valve casing 1 is cylindrically shaped and provided with an intermediate radial flange 19, to which is secured a liner cup 20, clamped by a follower 21, held to the flange 19 by screws 22. The upper portion of t-he cylindrical valve casing is provided with a shoulder or counter-bore 23 which constitutes a seat for a flanged cylinder ring 24. The ring 24 constitutes a cylinder for the flange 15 of the valve member 13 and the flange 19 functions similarly in its engagement with the restricted portion of the valve 13. The opening within the radialflange 19 is so proportioned that the valve seat 11 may be passed therethrough and for this purpose the opening of the flange 19 must be larger than the diameter of the l valve seat at its upper flanged portion. Simil'arly the valve 13 may be lifted out of its 'cylinder 24 andthe cylinder ring 24 may be raised oil' its seat in the counter-bore 23.

The cylinder ring 24 is secured in place by the main cover portion 25 which is secured to the upper flange 26'of the casing 1 by bolts 27. The cover 25 in its clamping position bears on the flange of the cylinder ring 24 holdingit firmly on its seat in the counterbore 23. On'removal of the cover 25 all of the parts disposed in the interior of thevalve casing, namely, the cylinder ring 24, the valve 13, and the valve seat 11 may be raised upwardly and lifted out of the casing, it being of course obvious that the valve seat 11 must be released by unscrewing the nut 6 underneath the valve casing. rlfhe provision of making the several elements of such diameters as to fit one within the other greatly facilitates the assembly ofthe several parts. It also makes all of the parts available for inspection and renewal by simply removing the main cover 25 from the casing and since reducing valves for water lines are usually of large construction and the several elements are of considerable weight it is very desirable that they be removed by lifting them out at the topof the valve. For this purpose screw thread openings 28 and 29 have been provided in the valve 13 and the cover 25 to receive eye bolts orhooks for attachment I to suitable hoisting mechanism.

The valve casing is provided with a passage 30 at its inletlside communicating with an opening 31 in the cover member leading to a valve chamber 32. A port 33 establishes communication between the cylinder chamber above the valve 13 and the passage 30 to the inlet side of the valve as shown. The flow of fluid through the passage 30 and port 33 is controlled by a throttle valve 34 which is manually adjusted to permit a predetermined How of water from the inlet side through the port 33 in accordance with the speed at which it is desired to operate the valve 13. A passage 36 is provided on the delivery sideot' the valve and registers with a passage 37 in the cover member 25. The cover is further provided with a passage 38 coml municating with the cylinder chamber of the ysage 38. A .pilot valve 47 is disposed in the valve chamber 43 which latter constitutes a cylinder to guide the pilot valve in its vertical'reciprocatory movement, the valve being provided with a suitable packing 48 for this purpose.

The valve 47 closes against its seat 49 to close oif the passages and 46 and a port 50 connects the passage 45 with thel diaphragm chamber 51. A diaphragm 53 is clamped and securely held in position by the members 42 a'fnd a cover 52. The' diaphram is secured to pilot valve 47 in the manner shown, its central portlon being supported by the disc element 54 which is secured to the valve stem by a nut 55. ,The diaphragm supporting member 54 also constitutes a seat for a coil spring 56 and projects upwardly into the sleeve portion 57 of the member 52. The upper portion of the spring 56 is provided with a spring seat 57 adapted to be adjusted vertically relative to the lower spring seat 54. The yseat 5 8 is adjusted by. a screw 59 for'the purpose of providing a suitable tension on the diaphragm-53, this tension beinr effective to normally unseat the pilot valve 47. j

In the modification shown in Fig. A2 the main valve seat 11a is not supported at the bottom of the casing, but in other respects is similar to that shown in Fig. 1.

The operation of the reducing valve mechanism is briefly as follows :"Assuming the pilot valve to be adjusted through the screw element 59 for a given` pressure on the outlet or .delivery side of the main valve, pressure on the inlet side of the valve will raise the piston 13 from its seat, thereby opening the passage through the valve and permitting the flow of water therethrough. Water will flow in the passage 30 from the inlet side past the throttle valve 34, and through the passage 33 of the cover filling the chamber C in the cylinder above the valve 13. Then the valve cylinder is filled water will flow through the passages 38 and46 of the cover and pilot valve housing through the pilot valve opening, the valve being normally unseated, thence through the passages 45, 37 and 36,'respectively, to the valve outlet.

When a given water level or pressure has been established, in the Water system on the side of the valve outlet, for which the pilot valve has been adjusted, the pressure in the diaphragm chamber 41 established by the communicating port 50 will displace the diaphragm 53 vertically upward thereby seating ing the valve 47 and shutting off the passage 48. The continued iow through the passage 30 from the valve inlet will cause a pressure to be exerted upon the valve 13 equal to the pressure on the under lside of. the valve, and since the area of the valve 13 at its flanged portion 15 is greater than its area at its bottom surface, the valve 13 will be moved thereby to its seat.

When the pressure at the valve outlet has again dropped to an amount below that for which the pressure responsive mechanism has been adjusted the spring 56 will return the diaphragm 53 to its normal position whereby the pilot valve 47 becomes unseated permitting a flow from the main valve chamber through the passage 38 to the pilot valve and out at the passage 36 thereby relieving the pressure above the valve 13 and perniltting the latter to rise from its seat-by force of pressure from -chamber A on its under side.

The valve 47 and its iange 47 are of substantially the same surface area so that when the valve is seated pressure against the outvside of the' valve and the inner side of its for the valve in either direction of operation. .i

This reduces the shock or impact of closing. In addition, the throttle valve 34 is adjusted to control the flow through therpassage 30 fromthe valve inlet for the purpose of c ontrolliig the speed at which the valve 13 is operate It is evident from the foregoing description that reducing valves made in accordance therewith function to obtain automatic reguy lation of water pressures in a supply system, and that such a valve is automatically cushionedagainst impact in its seating and unseating operations. It is further obvious that the construction is such as to permit dismembering of the several cooperating elements in.

l0 the manner heretofore explained, from the top of the casing. This is ver advantageous in case of emergency, and it acilitates quick repairs.

I claim 1. A valve mechanism comprising a casing having a diaphragm formed integrally therewith and having a port therethrough, an annular flange formed within said Casin the inner diameter of which is greater t Aan the 0\ port of said diaphragm, a valve seat disposed in said port, an extension carried by said seat and constituting a guide, a valve disposed in said flange portion and adapted to close on said seat, a depending stem carried by the 2,5 valve intertting with the said guide, a sleeve suspended from the top of said casin constituting a cylinder forsaid valve, an a rcmovable cover for said casing, said valve seat,

valve, flange, and sleeve being of such relative diameters as will permit the removal of the sleeve, valve, and seat through the top of the casing when the cover is removed.

2. A valvemechanism comprising a casing a removable top cover, a diaphragm dividing the casing into an inlet and an outlet chamber and having a port therethrc ugh, a sliding pistori valve controlling said port, a 'sleeve above the valve constituting an operative cylinder therefor, the sleeve being supported by an outer flange seated on the top of the casing and clamped thereonl by the cover, an integral bearing flange inside the casing surroundin v the valve, a valve seat member fitted into sai port havin a flange seating upon the upper side thereo and smaller in diameter than the interior of the Iirst mentioned flange, a downward extension from the valve seat member having its terminal extended through and detachably engaged outside the casing, and a depending stem carried by the valve and guided by an axial bore in said extension.

3. A valve mechanism comprising a casing, a removable top cover, a diaphragm dividing the casing into an inlet and outlet chamber and having a port therethrough, a sliding piston valve controlling said port, a depending guide stem carried by the valve, aremovable sleeve above the valve constituting an operative cylinder therefor, the sleeve seating on the top of the casing, a bearing flange inside the casing surrounding thevalve and larger in internaldiameter than the valve, a

valve seat member fitted into said port having a flange seating upon the upper side thereof and smaller in diameter than the interior of said bearing flange, and an extension from the valve seat boredto form a guide for said valve stem.

4. 'A valve mechanism comprising a casing having a diaphragm formed integrally therewith and having a port therethrough, an annular fiange projecting inwardly on said cas' i ing, a sleeve having a radial fiange supported on the to of said casin cylinder or a piston va ve, said sleeve being in spaced relation with the wall of said casin and having its inner diameter substantia ly the same as the diameter of said annular flange, a valve operatively disposed in said sleeve and having a liner cup for engagement therewith, and a iner cup secured to said annular flange and constituting a lower support for said valve. v

In testimony whereof, I sign my name.

EDWARD v. ANDERSON.

and constituting a y 

